Method of transferring designs



NlTE STATES :ATENT i nines,

\VILLIAM R. FISH, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,997, dated November 23, 1897.

Application filed October '7, 1896. Serial No. 608,156. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. FISH, of

the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and

State of New York, have invented a new method of taking prints from lithographic stones or metal, gelatin-plates, or other fiat surfaces, relief or intaglio plates, and the like, and converting them into sensitive transfersheets whenever desired and as often as desired regardless of the age of the print or the number of times it has been used; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to use the same.

The object of this invention is to produce drawings or prints in a permanent ink or coatin g of designs, drawings, engravings, or prints, and to convert the same at any time into transfer-sheets, thus saving the expense of holding and storing the original lithographic stones, zinc, or fiat printing-plates, or relief or intaglio plates, which now locks up vast sums of capital.

My method is to make a print or drawing on paper or fibrous ,film with a permanent ink or coating which becomes hard or dry. I prefer to use for this purpose a-very lightcolored or white ink or coating. Thereare several white inks on the market, and while white ink is preferred, for the reasons hereinafter set forth, it is not essential, and I do not desire to be limited to the composition of any particular ink, white or otherwise. It is also preferred to use paper unsized and chemically pure, although it is not desired to disclaim the use of some sized paper provided there is not an excess of size approaching a coated paper. The print or drawing can then be laid away until it is desired to convert it into a transfer-sheet. When it is desired to reproduce this print, design, or drawing, the surface of the paper or fibrous film is washed or treated with a protective solution of gumarabic and water, or glue, gelatin, albumen, or analogous substances may be used. This solution will permeate all parts of the paper or fibrous film where an ink or coating has not previously been applied. The paper or fibrous film may then be washed with water to remove any excess of the protective solution. A greasy or lithographic ink is next applied to the paper or fibrous film by means of a roller or in other appropriate way, whereupon the ink will adhere to the parts of the paper or fibrous film previously covered with the permanent ink or coating, and will be repelled from the parts that have absorbed the protective solution. The parts of the paper or fibrous film that have absorbed the protective solution may be kept in condition to repel the greasy ink by moisture applied by means of a sponge or roller containing either water or a diluted protective solution. So long as the paper is moist the greasy ink is repelled from the parts where the protective solution was absorbed and attaches itself to the parts covered with the print, drawing, or design, and which do not absorb moisture or the protective solution. The print or design having been made originally in preferably a very light-colored or white ink the application of the greasy or lithographic ink, which now adheres to said light-colored or white ink or coating, brings out the design in all its true relative proportions, so that it is possible to discern when the print or design is evenly coated with the greasy ink, and any part showing weaker than the rest can be strengthened by adding more ink. The paper or fibrous film is then washed with water, leaving it clean and free from ink, except where the ink has adhered to the design or print. The paper is then brought into contact with the lithographic stone, plate, or other printing-surface and transferred by any suitable method, after which the paper is removed, leaving a reverse or negative impression of the print or design upon the surface of the stone, plate, or other printing-surface, from which any number of prints can be taken in the well-known manner.

The paper or fibrous film after it has been removed from the stone or other printingsurface can be saved, if desired for future use, in the same manner as above described, because the design or drawing being made with a permanent ink or coating, as described, is uninjured by the inking-up process, as is also the paper or fibrous film, and both are left in condition to receive future repetitions of the protective solution, washing, and inking-up even after the lapse of years until either the design or paper are worn out.

It will be found practicable in some instances to omit the step of Washing the transfer-sheet in water after treating it with greasy or printing ink, as the ink can be applied by a roller in such a manner that the sheet would not need washing afterward, and while in practice I prefer to wash the sheet after applying the ink I do. not wish to be limited in the broad features of my invention thereto.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of producing transfer-prints, consisting in treating the paper containing the drawing or design,with a mixture of water and albumen, gelatin, or one of the mueilaginous gums, then washing the same in water, then treating it with a greasy ink, then washing it, and transferring the same to the stone, plate or print-ing surface, substantially as described.

2. The process of producing transfenprints, consisting in first printing or drawing on paper or fibrous film, with a permanent ink or coating of a light or white color which becomes hard when dry, then saturating the paper with a mixture of water and albumen, gelatin or one of the mucilaginous gums, then treating it with an unctuous ink, and then transferring it to the stone, plate, or printing-surface, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described process of producing transfer-prints which consists of first treating the sheet or film containing the drawing or design with a mixture of water and albumen, gelatin or one of the mucilaginous gums, then washing the same in water, then treating it with a greasy or printing ink, and then transferring the same to a stone, plate or printing-surface.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLTAM R. FISH.

Witnesses:

H. M. JoHNsoN, A'DELINE SEssIoNs. 

